Single Horse Hitch

[Ed Thayer]

I am trying to decide how to attach a set of shafts to my log scoot so when the horse makes a sharp right or left hand turn it will not break them. This will be more for sap gathering than logs.

Some sort of articulated attachment would be ideal and wondered what others have done. I think if the horse could get maybe 40 deg. to the scoot before pulling on the hitch that might help.

Any thoughts or pics would be helpfull. Also, what are you using for wear skids on the runers. The ones I have now appear to be ash half rounds pegged to the long runners.

Think Spring,

Ed

[Carl Russell]

Ed, you are right the horse should be able to step over to pull the sled into a turn, especially because of the long runners. This can be accomplished with chains that allow the pole to move from side to side, but restrict complete mobility, so that the sled will follow them and not try to pass them on a down hill. I will attach some photos of my scoot with a single pole. You can easily attach shafts to a pole with a couple of 2×6 set up like an H.

The pole extends through a large ring hitched between two adjustable lengths of chain, and the end is mounted in a ring under the front bunk. This way it swivels, but doesn’t go either way too far.

Carl

[Ed Thayer]

Thank you Carl,

That was exactly what I was looking for. Are the chains anchored to the runners by through bolts or screw eyes?

Ed

[Carl Russell]

Ed,
the chains are anchored by clevises to steel plates that have an eye cut in them, and which are through bolted to the runner.

Carl

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